Hart House serves up sustainability

On a warm Wednesday night, four meat-eating friends make the epic trek on foot from USC Village to the land known as Hart House. For the sake of anonymity, they shall only be known as John, Paul, George and Ringo. This is their story.

Situated under Tuscany Apartments not too far from the corner of Exposition Boulevard and Figueroa Street, Hart House welcomes its visitors with a beautiful outdoor courtyard and a variety of seating options — casual and modern, but homey. Exciting pop-synth music fills the air. Good vibes abound. Friendly workers, biodegradable straws and a 100% plant-based menu all await visitors inside.

According to its website, Hart House promises no cholesterol, no antibiotics, no hormones, no artificial colors, no preservatives, no corn syrups and no trans fat. It’s certainly a bit of a mouthful, but definitely a healthy one. With a mission to reduce environmental impact for both the consumer and producer, Hart House positions itself in a unique way, meshing the classic historic cornerstones of American fast food with the ideals and ingredients of the future.

Owned and founded by popular American comedian and actor Kevin Hart, the chain now runs four locations in the Los Angeles area, with the University Park South one opening this past summer with easy access to USC students.

The catch? Only Ringo knew the truth behind Hart House’s menu, and brought the other three in blind in an effort to minimize their bias. John, Paul and George were surprised to learn at the counter that the chicken was not in fact chicken as they knew it. After a brief moment of silence and a spark of curiosity, they were ready to give it a shot. And thus, the adventure began.

John grabbed a Deluxe Crispy Chick’n, Paul ordered a Deluxe Hot N Crispy Chick’n, George got an 8 Piece Nuggets and Ringo chose a Single Burg’r — all with sides of French Fries or Crispy Tots.

Unfortunately, any of the dipping sauces cost an extra 50 cents a piece. The options are quite tasty and zesty, and for better or for worse, contribute a great deal to the overall flavor of the food — special shoutouts to the Hart House Signature and the Creamy Buffalo. With great spicy and tangy blends, they are solid additions to the meal.

The service is extremely fast, the outdoor ambiance is surprisingly relaxing, the food feels hot and fresh and the genre-jumping music selection is outstanding. It’s a unique and untraditional atmosphere not usually found in typical fast food fare.

John found the sandwich flavorful, although it fell apart easily. It’s crispy, with a good consistency, but as for the physical “meat,” John felt that it fell short. Paul, on the other hand, found his spicy “chicken” sandwich beautiful and delicious. For both men, the other toppings ultimately elevated the overall taste and balanced out the other drawbacks.

George quipped that he wouldn’t have known the nuggets were plant-based unless he was told. He found them good enough, but feels that as a real chicken connoisseur, when compared to competitors such as McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A (down the street or right next door), he would not have a reason to choose Hart House nuggets.

As for non-meat eaters, however, the restaurant offers a pretty close experience to the real shebang. In the realm of nuggets, Hart House is also on the pricier side for the quantity it serves. An eight-piece entree would cost someone $8.99. That’s more than one dollar for every little bite, before tax. Certainly some food for thought.

Ringo quite liked his classic burger. It was juicy and light without any of the hassle of beef. The other guys found the veggie patty to be more appealing than the chicken patty too. Some of the guys loved the fries and tots, and some of them found them fairly standard. Potatoes can be pretty subjective, after all.

Hart House’s sustainability initiatives are commendable and timely, the space is comfortable and great for hangouts, and the service is impressively quick and reliable. As for repeat trips, time will tell if the novelty of 100% plant-based eventually wears off.

As avid eaters of chicken, consensus from the group seemed to be that while they could taste the difference, the opportunity that Hart House offers in bringing plant-based fast food alternatives to the mainstream is important and certainly deserves the attention. As for vegetarians, it is surely a party. All in all, the fab four were pleased with their journey and determined that Hart House was certainly worth a visit.